The Holy War | Page 2

they play'd To beat open Ear-gate; and I was afraid Not only
Ear-gate, but the very town Would by those battering-rams be beaten down. I saw the
fights, and heard the captains shout, And in each battle saw who faced about; I saw who
wounded were, and who were slain; And who, when dead, would come to life again. I
heard the cries of those that wounded were, (While others fought like men bereft of fear,)
And while the cry, 'Kill, kill,' was in mine ears, The gutters ran, not so with blood as tears.
Indeed, the captains did not always fight, But then they would molest us day and night;
Their cry, 'Up, fall on, let us take the town,' Kept us from sleeping, or from lying down. I
was there when the gates were broken ope, And saw how Mansoul then was stripp'd of
hope; I saw the captains march into the town, How there they fought, and did their foes
cut down. I heard the Prince bid Boanerges go Up to the castle, and there seize his foe;

And saw him and his fellows bring him down, In chains of great contempt quite through
the town. I saw Emmanuel, when he possess'd His town of Mansoul; and how greatly
blest A town his gallant town of Mansoul was, When she received his pardon, loved his
laws. When the Diabolonians were caught, When tried, and when to execution brought,
Then I was there; yea, I was standing by When Mansoul did the rebels crucify. I also saw
Mansoul clad all in white, I heard her Prince call her his heart's delight. I saw him put
upon her chains of gold, And rings, and bracelets, goodly to behold. What shall I say? I
heard the people's cries, And saw the Prince wipe tears from Mansoul's eyes. And heard
the groans, and saw the joy of many: Tell you of all, I neither will, nor can I. But by what
here I say, you well may see That Mansoul's matchless wars no fables be. Mansoul, the
desire of both princes was: One keep his gain would, t'other gain his loss. Diabolus would
cry, 'The town is mine!' Emmanuel would plead a right divine Unto his Mansoul: then to
blows they go, And Mansoul cries, 'These wars will me undo.' Mansoul! her wars seemed
endless in her eyes; She's lost by one, becomes another's prize: And he again that lost her
last would swear, 'Have her I will, or her in pieces tear.' Mansoul! it was the very seat of
war; Wherefore her troubles greater were by far Than only where the noise of war is
heard, Or where the shaking of a sword is fear'd; Or only where small skirmishes are
fought, Or where the fancy fighteth with a thought. She saw the swords of fighting men
made red, And heard the cries of those with them wounded: Must not her frights, then, be
much more by far Than theirs that to such doings strangers are? Or theirs that hear the
beating of a drum, But not made fly for fear from house and home? Mansoul not only
heard the trumpet's sound, But saw her gallants gasping on the ground: Wherefore we
must not think that she could rest With them, whose greatest earnest is but jest: Or where
the blust'ring threat'ning of great wars Do end in parlies, or in wording jars. Mansoul! her
mighty wars, they did portend Her weal or woe, and that world without end: Wherefore
she must be more concern'd than they Whose fears begin, and end the selfsame day; Or
where none other harm doth come to him That is engaged, but loss of life or limb, As all
must needs confess that now do dwell In Universe, and can this story tell. Count me not,
then, with them that, to amaze The people, set them on the stars to gaze, Insinuating with
much confidence, That each of them is now the residence Of some brave creatures: yea, a
world they will Have in each star, though it be past their skill To make it manifest to any
man, That reason hath, or tell his fingers can. But I have too long held thee in the porch,
And kept thee from the sunshine with a torch, Well, now go forward, step within the door,
And there behold five hundred times much more Of all sorts of such inward rarities As
please the mind will, and will feed the eyes With those, which, if a Christian, thou wilt
see Not small, but things of greatest moment be. Nor do thou go to work without my key;
(In mysteries men soon do lose their way;) And also turn it right, if thou wouldst know
My riddle, and